Arrested for third time

Relevant offers

A woman going around Blenheim on a mobility scooter pretending to collect money for her sick child has been arrested for a third time in less than a week.

Joanne Lee Kerr, 31, unemployed of Blenheim, is facing 10 burglary charges, two theft charges, a charge of using a fake script to get prescription drugs, and one of obtaining by deception.

Police first arrested Kerr on Friday night last week after reports of a woman visiting homes in Blenheim on a mobility scooter and collecting money.

Senior Sergeant Dan Mattison, of Blenheim, said police believed the woman made up at least three different reasons for collecting money. One was for her son who was in Starship Hospital in Auckland. She told others she was fundraising for her son's sports team. He understood she had a medical condition, but was able to walk unaided.

Once inside the house, police believed the woman took prescription medicine and other small items.

The two theft charges related to daffodil bulbs, secateurs, two ornamental birds and an ornamental mouse.

Police arrested Kerr at her home and charged her with four burglaries. She was released on bail, but on Saturday she was arrested again and charged with a further four burglaries as well as breaching her bail conditions.

On Wednesday, police found Kerr breaching her curfew conditions and arrested her for the third time at 10.50pm. She was charged with a further two burglaries at homes in Nelson St and Arthur St, one of which was committed on Sunday, the day of Kerr's birthday.

She appeared in the Blenheim District Court yesterday in front of a justice of the peace. She was remanded in police custody to reappear on Monday.

Police were grateful to those who reported their concerns to police, Mr Mattison said.

"With help from the public, police have been able to lay further charges to hold this woman to account for her offending," he said.